Pastor’s Corner: “Misplaced Trust”
Psalm 20:7 (NIV) – 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
Maybe you’ve heard the story of the man who was walking next to a cliff on a foggy day when he suddenly fell over the edge. He managed to grab a hold of a tree limb hanging from the cliff, but because of the fog he was unable to see a ledge four feet below him instead of the one hundred foot drop off. He cried out in desperation for help, pleading repeatedly, “God, please help me” before a voice from the heavens replied: “Do you believe in me?” “Yes, yes,” said the man. “Do you trust me?” the voice asked. “Yes, please, just help me.” “Then, let go,” the voice commanded. Anxiously, the man looked up and said, “Is there anyone else up there I can talk to?”
Fear can drive you to trust in things you wouldn’t naturally or normally trust. If you’ve no options left where do you turn? If you’re floating in the ocean, lost at sea, a piece of driftwood looks like a good option. But you wouldn’t normally hold onto it in everyday life. Imagine turning up to work with your driftwood under your arm for security… ‘just in case’. Yet so many of us hold onto certain things to comfort us but it is a misplaced trust.
Faith/Trust in Christ is the starting point for all the work God wants to do in us and through us. Every day we have opportunity to place our trust in people or things: spouses, children, employer, government, job, retirement fund, experts, doctors and on and on. Although it is right that we build trusting relationships with people, it is vital that we trust God above anyone or anything else. Psalm 118:8 (NKJV) – 8 It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man. Psalm 146:3-4 (NIV) – 3 Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. 4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.
People are people and we can sometimes fail others no matter our intentions. We break trust—sometimes by accident, sometimes intentionally. But God is not a person. God is God. He is perfect. He is love. We can always count on him. God is our help and He is our hope. He is our healer. He is our provider. He is our King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is our strength. And through it all, “The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations” (Psalm 146:10).
Probably one of the easiest misplaced trust traps to fall into is trusting ourselves—especially when things are going well and our business or ministry or project is proving to be successful. That sense of pride can creep in. Look at what I’ve done. But all good gifts, all true successes, come from God. He is our source. If we begin to trust in ourselves, we will surely fall. 2 Corinthians 1:9 (NLT) – we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God,
Consider this: Do you have any areas of misplaced trust in your life? Ask God to reveal anywhere you are trusting in something or someone else—or yourself—instead of Him. Seek His forgiveness and help in relying only on Him.
Let us Pray: Jesus, forgive me for sometimes placing my trust in people and things instead of relying only on You. Help me to remember that You are my hope and You are my source. Thank You that I can always trust in Your love and provision. In Jesus’ name…Amen!
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton